The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1887-02-20
A WYOMING WEDDING.

Jim Mason dismountcd ut Burton's ranch,
turned his pony into the corral and strobe
heavily into the bunk-room. One of the riders
Of Burton's outfit said, GLOW !" and Jim gave
him the same terse greeting.
"whats new over Crazy Creek way ~
shouted Long Pete.
"Nuthin' much is the old man here2 Mat
wants him to send over couple o. you bucks,
to help him swim them Northern cattle cross
the river, We're short-handcd."
"Better see him after supper Got his two
gal daughters out here now, aud they're feedin'
In the new shanty. Them two dude cow
punchers eats with 'em, an they take q sight
o. time
~ don't hold with women and dudes on
cow-ranch much," said Jim.
"Who does 2" calculated Hairy Mike. "Im
goin' to quit Burton. The darned dudes make
me sick. With college chaps comm out here
and swellin' roun', It amt no place for n com
mon waddy. l run cows In this country when
the 1njuns was runnin' us an ! got no use fer
fancy business. One o. the dudes he stacked
up long side o. me on circle tother day, an
he says, 'Fine mornin', Mkc?' l says, Yes, It
amt; an you'd better not monkey 'roun me
with yer cheap talk. I'm six-shooter man
from way back, l am; eat snakes, an I'm
wolf-you hear me howl? That's how
throwed 1t into smarty."
1.-THE danes is pretty slick dames," said Pete;
sole Burton reckons TO marry the plugtooth
dude to one NV 'em. Seems his ole man owns
railroad East somcwheres."
"Maybe SO. Plugtooth 'ull fool him up
trip" growled Mike. "lie's no count sort.
Reckon his people sent him out here TO keep
whisky out NV him. Durn him-kcepin' some
good man out Nv job"
''Kin he ride ?' asked Jim.
"Ridc nuthin'. Burton, give him string o.
plumb gentle horses. Sets IN soldier fashion"
'Well," said Pete, ''the danes think he's
nicer N white face yearlin'. He's sure gittin'
IN his fine work with the pretty one-Hclen, or
whatever she calls herself. There's slush a
hollerin'. Well, We kin russle grub II we don't
eat with the dudes.'
After supper Jim went over to the gaudily
painted house and discharged his mission.
: "Did you see the gals ~ asked Mike when he
returned to the riders cabin.
"Got kind o. squint at 'cm. Which one is
II has the sort o. open mouth-shOrt Tipped
like' She's as slick lookin' as any o. them
"Helen. that is. She's the one the iay is
after. What is It he answers to9 Scranton,
amt It, shorty9"
A man rather over six feet In height looks up
from the rawhide rope he is braiding, ami rolls
a cigarette before he replies.
"Sounds somethin' like that. Coin back in
the mornn', Jim ~
"Ruther. We gathered n raft o. cattle over
there-rOde all our horses poor. ! amt had
my boots off three nights week. Pound my
ear tonight, though, pretty solid"
"You mays well crawl into my dogs nest"
said Shorty. 81 got pretty fat bed, | have
That fellow the freighters hung give me three
pair o. daisy blankets. I'll roll her up soon's
get, this strand drawed. Outsides best, l
reckon"
"You bet you. Idon't banker after sleepin'
indO0rs-not without 1t SHOWS. That's why the
city chaps look SO rOcky-don't let the wind
blow through their whskers nights"
"Wonder who'll git to go over the river with
YOU" said Mike. "Camped down by the
bends'
"Yes"
''Is the company giving pretty good chuck
sway up Mac makes 'em There amt any
more dried apples on the wag'n, hut old
Greaser Smith is cookin' fer us, and his bread
Is the best roundup bakin' out. ! hear them
Horseshoe men is gittin' condensed milk.
Now, call that ciyilizin' too much. Man
can't drink straight coffee ought to quit singin
TO the cows"
When the men were all In bed, and Shorty
had thrown boot at the candle stuck ON the
dOor-sill, Hairy Mikes rancous snorc gave the
signal for silence and rest.
At daylight next morning Jim Mason and
two Of the Burton riders started for the camp
on the North Platte River. few miles on the
way Jim discovered tba he had left his cuert
at Burton's. and told the other men he would
lope back for II, and ovcrtake them on the
divide. Reaching the ranch, he searched the
bunk-ro0m for the cuert, and then went down
to tho barn to see II II lay where he had left
his saddle over night.
Crossing the corral toward the barn door he
was arrested by the sound of wOmans voice
In the building. Jim was not n carpet knight,
and would have left his cucrt more willingly than
faced one of Burton's daughters. As he stood
hesitating he heard q little cry of pain, and
then mans voice said, sharply: "Dont be a
Jim was sure Of that--it must be one of the
"dudes"-and he listened II any one was talking
roughly to one of those girls
'But you promised, Arthur, you promised''
you were an angel. Men will use figures of
speech under certain circumstances. BE sens-
bic, Nelly. believe this Is all nonsense; but
II you want to make run for It, I'll pay you're
fare East, and see that you're comfortable
But as for marrying YOU can't do it-nOt yet,
you'll be biting your nose of TO spite your face,
that's ALL I'd be In a mess, certainly-but
where would you bel
Sand II went East?'
be Mrs. Scranton II year from now, and mo-
b0dy'll know the difference. What is the use
Of all this cryingY'
"Oh, Arthur am so wretched'---
Jim Mason left the corral and spurred after
the men. lie could not face the poor girl, and
he dreaded making more trouble for her. But
all the way To the mouth of Crazy Creek he was
wondering what he could do.
"Say, Mac said Jim Mason 10 the Half
Circle Cross foreman that night, ~ got to 20
to town. Wouldn't leave when you're so
rushed, only can't bclp IT, kin come out in a
couple o. days"
Mac poked his pipe thoughtfully. "Well, be
as quick as you kin. II the river don't go
down, It's goin' to be job swimming cows.
Take one o. them extry horses your string Is
kind o. worked down. II you sec any men,
want two or three tcnderfeet."
Next night Jim was In Cheyenne He went
To the house OF the Crazy Creek Cattle Com
pany's general manager aud said: ''Mr. GRAY,
want TO git hundred dollars right on"
"Why, Jim, this Is a new trick for you, com
Ing TO town IN the middle of work aud wanting
10 play faro"
~ had TO come In, Mr., Gray-and II amt faro
want II for"
81 haven't got that much, but III see II my
WE has. Can't you walt till the Office is open
In tho morningf''
"ld rather not but | kin borrow II round
town II you amt got IT.
Mr.. Gray got the money, and told Jim TO sign
Tor II Mt the company's Office next day.